5
The Zeelander Z44 is a 44-foot luxury motoryacht produced by premier Dutch yacht-building firm Zeelander Yachts between 2013 and 2020. A unique classic-contemporary look inspired by Maine lobster boats but with modern curves, a sloping transom, Art Deco design touches, a sparkling livery and an ultra-deluxe finish, this vessel shimmers like a work of art. Though it features the dimensions of a compact sports cruiser it has a super-yacht feel and finish, while rugged engines and an offshore-optimized hull with double chines and a swashbuckling bow entry deliver a thrilling ride. Crafted in partnership with naval stylist Cor D. Rover and an immediate hit with discerning buyers, this watercraft also wowed industry insiders enough to win the title for “World’s Best Superboat” at the 2019 Motor Boat Awards held in London.
There’s room out on the foredeck to fit a snug single cushion and enjoy the views from this teak-lined space, but a much roomier al-fresco lounge sits in the aft-cockpit. Back here you can laze for hours across a plush hook-shaped sofa that traces the edge of the cockpit and surrounds a high-gloss mahogany dining table. Lined in marine-grade upholstery, this sofa seats up to eight guests, while the signature sloping transom flips open at the touch of a button to reveal a vast, timber-lined bathing platform that is large enough to operate as a cabana-style beach-club floating inches above the water. There is also a wet bar station back here with an ice-chipper and chilled storage, perfect for keeping your refreshments crisp and cold. Head into the upper-cockpit, carefully nestled under a wrap-around hood with dynamic glazing, a retractable sunroof and an open aspect at the rear, and discover an L-shaped leather sofa, a set of cabinets, a dining table and a swivel chair that also turns around to face the port-side helm station. Controls on the dashboard are unambiguously high-tech, and include power-steering, VHF radio, Garmin touchscreens and a Penta joystick.
Surprisingly capacious on the lower deck, where unique mullioned windows let in plenty of light, there’s space down here for an open galley with stonework surfaces and all the high-end appliances needed for life at sea. Also on offer down here is a double bed by the bow with hidden storage and a skylight as well as a full-beam master stateroom located aft with a queen-sized bed, a pair of side sofas and a hanging locker. An elegant main head sits to port and features a curved shower cubicle, a molded sink and a flush toilet.
A pair of 500HP Volvo Penta IPS600 diesels propel the Z44 to full-throttle speeds of around 36 knots, while at a 20-knot cruising pace you will enjoy a range of up to 400 nautical miles thanks to a 422 US gallon fuel tank. The category B hull proves an admirable performer in coastal waters, while sound mitigation throughout keeps engine noise below that 70-decibel mark.
